Method of making linoleum



No Drawing.

Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED stars PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. WHITNEY AND HARRY G. HASSENPLUG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SLOANE-BLABON CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE METHOD OF MAKING LINOLEUM Our invention is an improved floor covering having a facing of linoleum composition orthe like and a backing such as burlap impregnated with discrete comminuted particles of absorbent and resilient material such as cork or wood flour, ground leather or paper pulp which is mixed in a suitable liquid adherent vehicle and applied to the backing in any suitable manner.

By the impregnation of the backing burlap with cork or the like the resiliencyand durability of the floor covering is increased, the fibres of the backing are rendered more tough and pliant, the floor covering is more easily laid and its adhesion to the floor is increased both when it is cemented down and when left uncemented.

The ground cork or similarly acting material may be applied by the addition thereof to the paint with which the backing is coated. The addition of the cork breaks the glaze of the coating and permits slight absorption of moisture by the backing and gives the advantages hereinbefore enumerated. Preferably, the vehicle used for the application of the corkis a water-oil emulsion compound andmay be formed by soaking about twentyfive parts by weight of an emulsifying agent such as casein in about one hundred twenty (120) parts by weight of water. When the casein is soft and swollen it may bebroughtinto viscous solution by the addition of three to five parts of twenty-six (26) degree ammonia water and about two parts sodium fluoride and heating.

Aqueous dispersions of suitable pigments and fillers-are added, say from 80 to 100 parts thereof dry weight, and from to 100 parts cork flour. The mixture is then preferably emulsified with 30 to parts by weight of an oxidizing oil such as boiled linseed oil and applied to the backing by rollers, spraying or brushing.

The proportions of the ingredients used, the ingredients themselves and the thickness ofthe coating applied may vary widely and the'foregoing ingredients and proportions are merely illustrative of a satisfactory viscous liquid vehicle for the application of the cork to the backing.

Application filed December 4, 1928. Serial No. 323,784.

By incorporating cork. flour, or similarly acting discrete comminuted particles of absorbent and resilient material, in the vehicle by which the fibrous backing is coated and impregnated, the film formed is prevented from completely sealing the fibres which consequently retain their natural strength and pliancy instead of becoming dried out, brittle and rotten as occurs when usual paints are used. The cork or the like tends to soften and roughen the surface of the backing with resulting advantages hereinbefore enumerated. My improvements are applicable to linoleum products of the granulated type, of

with an aqueous emulsion comprising water,

an emulsifying agent, linseed oil and finely comminuted cork, rendering the emulsion when solidified partially pervious to moisture.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our names this 31st day of October 1928.

WILLIAM E. WHITNEY. HARRY G. HASSENPLUG. 

